HealthyBlue Advantage HSA

Note: The information below briefly describes important features about this health care program. It is not a contract. A detailed description of your benefits is included in the Evidence of Coverage. Please refer to the Evidence of Coverage for specific terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions.

HealthyBlue Advantage rewards you for knowing your health status and gives you choices each time you need care.

HealthyBlue Advantage allows members the flexibility to choose a health care provider when and where treatment is needed. When care is received inside the CareFirst service area members will experience the lowest out-of-pocket costs when they visit a BlueChoice provider. Members still have the option to access a BlueCard PPO doctor, but will be subject to higher out-of-pocket expenses.

Members receiving care outside the CareFirst Service area will experience the lowest out-of-pocket costs by accessing a national BlueCard PPO provider. Members will still have the option to opt-out of this network at a higher out-of-pocket expense.

With HealthyBlue Advantage, you can earn a financial reward by completing three simple steps. Children under the age of 2 are not eligible for the Healthy Reward.

Preventive Care at no cost when using a CareFirst BlueChoice provider when in the service area or a BlueCard PPO provider when outside of Maryland, D.C. or Northern Virginia:

Annual routine examinations and office visits

Well-child care and immunizations

Women's health coverage, such as routine mammograms and Pap tests

Men's health coverage, including routine prostate cancer screenings

Plans typically have some member out-of-pocket costs in the form of copayments, deductibles or annual maximums. Please refer to your Evidence of Coverage for more information.

HealthyBlue Advantage HSA also includes the tax savings of a Health Savings Account (HSA).

Health Savings Account (HSA): A health savings account is like a personal savings account, but the money in it can only be used for health care expenses. Only those individuals enrolled in a special type of health insurance called a high-deductible health plan are eligible to open a health savings account and contribute money into the account. The money in an HSA is always member owned, even though both the employer and member may deposit money into the account.

HSA funds can be used to offset your out-of-pocket costs (copayment, coinsurance and deductibles) that are associated with qualified health care expenses, including medical, pharmacy, dental and vision services.

An HSA is the only account that provides you with three types of tax savings:

Contributions to your HSA made by your employer (including contributions made through a cafeteria plan) may be excluded from your gross income.

All interest accrued in the account is not subject to federal income tax.

Wellness Discount Program - Learn about Blue365, an exciting program that offers great discounts from top retailers on fitness gear, gym memberships, family activities, healthy eating options and much more.

BlueVision Plus is an enhanced vision plan that may be purchased separately by employer groups. BlueVision Plus provides a routine eye examination and the opportunity to receive one pair of eyeglasses or a supply of contact lenses for a single copayment during each benefit period.

*While a referral is not needed to visit plan specialists when receiving services rendered in an office setting, pre-authorization may be needed for certain services such as mental health and substance abuse treatments and non-emergency hospitalizations, among others. Please refer to the benefits booklet (also called Evidence of Coverage) for the specific services that require pre-authorization.

For more information about this plan, contact our Member Services Department at the phone number on your member ID card.

Other Information

Serving Maryland, the District of Columbia and portions of Virginia. CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield is the shared business name of CareFirst of Maryland, Inc. and Group Hospitalization and Medical Services, Inc. CareFirst BlueChoice, Inc., an affiliate company, also offers health benefit products and services on this site.